Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Rivers & Lochs => Topic started by: Mike Barrio on 26/02/2013 at 13:15
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Hi folks :z16
Thought we should also have a thread for forum members to post about their days on the Ythan :cool:
Best wishes
Mike
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Cool
I've been on my bit 3 times now (incl. yesterday and today, water is looking fine :z16) and no sign of a Kelt or a finnock. There are finnock coming off at Ardlethen but probably on the worm, and i'm happy to keep trying the fly. They have to swim past my house to get to Ardlethen so i should at least have a chance.
Sandy
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Try some wee pearly black spiders Sandy and Peter Ross :wink
Cheers
Mike
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I was out on Sat water was up but running fairly clear didn't touch or see anything though.
Was more concentrating on my casting after my lessons with Ben.
Hope to be out this Sat again.
Dave
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Looking forward to your Ythan contributions Dave. :z16
Liked the photo's from your day out, oh that's right you didn't take any... Tut tut
Iain
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That meant to be a hint :roll
Heres my bittie , Taken last wednesday afternoon
(http://i47.tinypic.com/4ihv0g.jpg)
Sandy
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Sandy,
Just a hint of a hint yes. :X2
Iain
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Would have taken a photo but can't find my camera anywhere :mad I think I must have lost it on a bank somewhere :cry
Might try with my phone but prob wont be up to your standard.
Dave
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Been walking down at Newburgh beach a few times lately, still hundreds of seals, not much chance of many fish getting past that lot on their way into the river. :mad
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Been walking down at Newburgh beach a few times lately, still hundreds of seals, not much chance of many fish getting past that lot on their way into the river. :mad
Whyzat ? Natural predators have low impact on stocks, certainly sustainable as they will self regulate. Many of the seals are only resting in the Estuary not feeding there constantly. Some of the numbers I am seeing reported are laughable quite frankly, just typical scaremongering. However, the netting station that will soon be operating in the Estuary will take thousands of sea trout and salmon easily, in addition to those taken by natural predators. Know your enemy and all that. :roll
Lindsay
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Garry
I agree with you that there are hundreds of seals around Newburgh beach and although i'm sure they will take a salmon or sea trout,i have never witnessed this nor caught a seal marked fish in the estuary.
What concerns me more is how they manage to get past the hordes of fishers at Ardlethen come September.
I personally think that this small river must be suffering badly from the huge Angling pressure on this beat with very few fish getting through unhooked.
Lindsay
The netting station news has left me shocked!
Duncan
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Yes Duncan, found out about it on ADAA Forum. I am afraid the Scottish Numpty Party are not just satisfied about pushing Fish Farming beyond a sensible (and sustainable re wild stocks) remit, they seem to be pandering to the netsmen now as well ! Now, they could argue, that they too have a right to target wild stocks and when anglers start whingeing about predators, commercial fisheries etc takin "oor fush" we just sound selfish. If anglers feel strongly they should not support an Estate that runs a sport fishery as well as leasing netting rights to a commercial organisation. Vote with your feet, or if you fish there you have no grounds for complaint. Perhaps the returns from angling are down and the estate is leasing the commercial netting to make up the shortfall ? If so it is a pity that an angling syndicate or Association couldn't have been approached and leased it instead - I can think of one locally that I am sure would have been very welcomed by it's members ! If they really are just reaping the bounty of both then they are irresponsible and greedy, in my opinion. Talk about a conflict of interests. But then is it not the same with Johnston's on the North Esk ?
Now, I am not anti-fish farming per se, but if we have so much of it then why do we have to net already pressured wild stocks which are precious in terms of tourist angling as well as local recreational angling ? Has anyone surveyed to determine whether the Foveran engine is sustainable re the existing stocks ? I personally find it hard to read most of the angling press at the moment whether it is Bruce Sandison's becoming-boring-very-fast crusade against the Salmon Farming Industry or Trout Fisherman with it's "let's nuke the Cormorants" agenda as, we anglers, just sound like Victorian 'Sportsmen' eg. kill anything with hooked claw or beak or stop anything that conflicts with our own particular interests. Truth is all things have to exist together, but I agree that natural predators coupled with a netting engine could tip the balance against all interests actually, but primarily it is the fish that will suffer. The fact that anglers are saying "oh well, at least the netsmen will kill off the seals" is really worrying and is totally missing the point. If they did, the netsmen would just catch more of the fish in the estuary ! A Seal has to work for it's dinner, a net just sits there.
Maybe one of the Ythan Board will come on and enlighten us further, particulary with what the quota is for the two engines that have been leased. Truth is we don't know much about this venture, it may not be as bad as we think ot it might be terrible.
Lindsay
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Duncan
What about this one? This was caught in the Estuary last August, I thought it looked like seal damage, but perhaps there is another cause. :z8
(http://i47.tinypic.com/n2e9nl.jpg)
It went back, so i never really though much more of it.
But you raise an interesting point.
Sandy
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Lindsay
I do not believe in wholsale slaughter of wildlife either, but as the apex predators I beleive its up to us to keep things in balance. I do not agree with your opinion that nature will self regulate, sometimes but not always, rabbits in australia , Cane Toads to name a few.
We cull upwards of 55,000 to 60,000 Red Deer per annum, Foxes, Crows, Badgers, Roe Deer to save tree's. some people also shoot birds and annimals for enjoyment (as I did many years ago) I do not belive we can be to precious about this.
Faskally, St Andrews and Aberdeen Uni did reasearch into the effect of seals on Salmon stock, one of their conclusion was by removing one seal from the Moriston it would increase Salmon stock by 17%
:z18
Jim
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I do not believe in wholsale slaughter of wildlife either, but as the apex predators I beleive its up to us to keep things in balance. I do not agree with your opinion that nature will self regulate, sometimes but not always, rabbits in australia , Cane Toads to name a few.
Cane Toads and rabbits = introduced species, non native so the balance is disrupted. No problem with Wildlife management when it is justified, if you read my post I allude to this. I don't think of myself as an "apex predator" though, interesting you do.
We cull upwards of 55,000 to 60,000 Red Deer per annum, Foxes, Crows, Badgers, Roe Deer to save tree's. some people also shoot birds and annimals for enjoyment (as I did many years ago) I do not belive we can be to precious about this.
I am not precious. I am not a 'tree-hugger' either FTR. I shot game also as a youth, in fact was a crack shot with rifle and shotgun. All Deer are shot to save trees btw, and IMO not nearly enough as natural regeneration in Deeside for example is pathetic ! See, no dogma on my part :z7
Faskally, St Andrews and Aberdeen Uni did reasearch into the effect of seals on Salmon stock, one of their conclusion was by removing one seal from the Moriston it would increase Salmon stock by 17%
I find that staggeringly difficult to believe eg, the Salmon population doubles if we shoot 6 Seals ? Please post the actual extracts, charts etc or point me to that particular research.
Cheers,
Lindsay
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Lindsay
If you have no problem with wildlife management when justified then we are in agreement.
The definition of an apex predator is an animal who, as an adult, has no natural predators in its ecosystem. Last time I looked we had no natural predators.
"I find that staggeringly difficult to believe eg, the Salmon population doubles if we shoot 6 Seals" So do I, where did I say you could extrapolate that ?
Here is the research paper http://www.abdn.ac.uk/lighthouse/documents/pdf/fme_504.pdf
:z18
Jim
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If you have no problem with wildlife management when justified then we are in agreement.
The definition of an apex predator is an animal who, as an adult, has no natural predators in its ecosystem. Last time I looked we had no natural predators.
Jim,
Lions are classed as 'apex' predators as are Tigers. They kill to eat, we kill them to 'manage' them, or as you said before "for fun", so your definition is possibly tenuous. Both surely can't be apex. Do we 'naturally' predate Lions and Tigers ? I don't think so, we protect livestock and our own lives - they eat us ! I agree that, because we have shaped the environment (often to its detriment), then we are responsible for 'managing' it. However, I do not clearly agree with your ideas on that management, sorry.
I found and read that paper last night. It is a 'desk' scientist type paper based on counted seal numbers, often assumed, and assumed levels of predation and assumed level of consumption. I suggest you read the paper in detail especially regarding the scientists own admission of 'bias' in their results. Yes, the Moristion, based on their 'model', could increase by 17% by removing the one seal they assume is there all the time, so instead of an annual catch of 68 it would increase to a whopping 80 ! But on larger more normal rivers, the modelled effect of seal removal did not increase exponentially:
"a generalised model of seal removal illustrated that stocks and catches increased by (less than or equal to) 33% in rivers with monthly rod catches of less than or equal to 10 fish but declined to (less than or equal to) 10% with catches of more than 34 fish per month".
So, although the percentage increases look good, in reality the 'model' predicts that seal removal on a river where less than 10 fish are caught per month this would result in 13/14 fish per month. On a 'good' river, like the Dee or Don (!) we can expect a 10% increase in rod catches.
The paper also concludes that the impact of seals on stocks is worse in Spring. As the Ythan is not a 'spring' river for either Salmon or Sea Trout I would take it that the impact is lower than is being made out.
For what it is worth, I think it is a very useful paper to allow river managers and governing bodies to monitor policy and appropriate action on wildlife management. :z16 But it is easy to extract 'sound bytes' and sensationalise figures, when in fact the whole picture needs to be rationalised.
I've said enough on this now, we will just have to agree to disagree :wink
Cheers,
Lindsay
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Lindsay
We both agree on the main point as you said "wildlife management when justified" if managing seal numbers has no justification I don't have a problem with that either.
:z18
Jim
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Hi Sandy
Nice sea trout.
The marks certainly look like they might have been made by a seal but i suppose there might be many other possiblities.
I like your photo of the river further upstream it's a lovely spot.
Around 5 years ago i put my name on the waiting list for membership there but have not heard anything since!
Have you a season ticket?
Regards
Duncan
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Have you a season ticket?
Sort of, i got the fishing rights for One rod with my house :z16. It belongs to the property so i don't intend moving anytime soon :z12
Sandy
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Hi Sandy
Nice sea trout.
The marks certainly look like they might have been made by a seal but i suppose there might be many other possiblities.
I like your photo of the river further upstream it's a lovely spot.
Around 5 years ago i put my name on the waiting list for membership there but have not heard anything since!
Have you a season ticket?
Regards
Duncan
Duncan my club has 1 mile double bank just south of Fyvie and 2 miles single bank on the Braes on Minonnie we are loooking for new members, however it helps if you are in the Civil Service. I could enquire about an assocaite membership if you are interested.
:z18
Jim
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Sandy
Wish i could find a deal like that!
Jim
Thanks for your kind offer.
I have actually just moved house from Ellon to the Alford area so probably too far away now.
I have fished just downstream at Methlick for years now and regard it as one of favourite beats so i would recommend your beat to anyone looking for fishing on the Ythan.
Duncan
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Sandy
Wish i could find a deal like that!
It is possible.
I can fish "my" beat on the Dee any time after or before the paying guests are off the water. In 5 years I have not wet a line :(
I will this year though. Most guests are off by 6 in the evening so a few hours fishing is possible.
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Got an Hour or so this afternoon.
Bloody cold, but the water is clearing nicely Not too high either.
Fished through with a 1/2" tungsten black/red tube and a fast sinking tip, Finally got a decent pull :z18 Hurrah, but was so busy in a daydream that i missed it completely :roll. So no idea how big or what it was. But it was a fish, so its a start.
If the weather stays reasonable then might be worth a cast next week :z16
Sandy
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Been down for a couple of Hours this afternoon.
The water is getting lower and is quite clear.
Lots of flies hatching off all afternoon
Including these bad boys
March Browns
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_06_04_13_4_27_19.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=495)
Large Dark Olives
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_06_04_13_4_29_26.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=497)
I didnt see anything rising or any Tourists moving :z6 But it was a lovely afternoon to be on the river.
Does it get much better than this.........well a fish or two would have been the cherry, hopefully they wake up soon :z16
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_06_04_13_4_32_55.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=498)
Sandy
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I was also out from around 10:30 till 3, nothing to report fish wise either.
I couldn't even say I seen any fly life either unless I'm looking in the wrong places.
Was mainly practicing my casting but wasn't doing too well (Ben have to get you out on the Ythan).
Here's a couple of pics from my phone.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/883_06_04_13_4_59_14.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=499)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/883_06_04_13_5_01_03.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=500)
Dave
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Cracking photos Sandy :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Photo's at last Dave :z16 pity about the fish but that seems to be the theme at the moment. :cry
Sandy, nice reel is it an Airflo? :X2
Iain
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Lovin the photos guys. :z16
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So with my trip to the Don Cancelled :cry and the sun shining, Sandra thought it would be a great time to continue with the gardening :z6
So thats what i did through till 4 pm i kept an eye on the river but saw no movement so wasn't too bothered. Come 4 pm i found the gate and disappeared to go and wave my Stick, spent a wee while searching with a dry but nothing moving, probably too late, But the water is crystal clear and running a wee bit above summer levels. I dive back to the house and swap for my Switch outfit, why not, it can't be any less productive. I Set up with my New Barrio Switch 6/7 and a 10ft fast sinking tip, an 8ft tippet and a Size 12 Sparse tied Thunder and Lightning.
Back down to the water and start to revel in the awesomeness of the new line , Fantastic Job Guys :z16 What a belter, just perfect for the wee river out back. Turnover is great even with the Sinking tip. Working my down a nice streamy bit of water and BUMP i get a take, Cool :z12 So i keep going. BUMP this time i hook up and after a short fight this little fella is Quickly unhooked and returned to the river.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_15_04_13_6_56_25.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=578)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_15_04_13_6_56_53.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=579)
Not a monster, but a nice fresh Finnock and very pretty :z3 another couple of steps and BUMP i get another about the same size. This one is returned without coming out the river, The wee doubles are all de-barbed as are all my flies whatever i fish for. :z16 I spend a few more minutes working the pool end, but no more action. Feeling hungry now i return home. But its been a great afternoon for firsts, First fish on the new Switch rod, first fish on the new switch line, first fish of the season off the beat and the first fish on the new style sparse flies. Didn't even take a net with me :X1 But then thats maybe why i finally got some fish :z4 :z4
So the Don may be out of order for a few days but the Ythan isn't :z16
Sandy
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Great stuff Sandy :z16 nice to see somthing coming up the water, remember to let some past for me :wink
Will have to try and get out hopefully the the wind will die down a bit most of my beat is open so not much shelter.
Dave
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Great stuff dude, cracking Finnock ! :z16
Watching the continued stable level there I was gonna head to the Ythan today for trout and give you a shout but didn't fancy waving a three weight in that wind !
Lindsay
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Aye well done Sandy :z16 it's going to be interesting to see what you get out of that stretch during the season. From what I'm hearing the snow melt situation is in full swing and there's a hell of a lot of snow to melt...
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Excellent :z16
When I heard the wind howling last night I felt sorry for anyone taking some time off to cast a fly today, glad that the Ythan is in good nick and that you had a very rewarding afternoon.
Quality fish.
Did you hurt your thumb gardening? :X2
Iain
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Did you hurt your thumb gardening? :X2
:z4 :z4 :z4
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Nice fish Sandy and I'm really pleased that you like the Switch line! :z16
Cheers
Mike
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The wee doubles are all de-barbed as are all my flies whatever i fish for.
Here is a question for you...why use doubles if you are fishing catch and release, or indeed, why use doubles at all for Finnock, which are generally small fish?
Just curious as even I have doubles tied up for them, but I don't know why!!! Tradition?
Having said that, last year with Mr C I was getting all mine on single hook sandeel patterns!
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Its a good question Rob.
If you can find me a nice strong 12 or 14 single hook about a B175 in Silver or Gold, that sits level in the water without twisting due to the hairwing, then i'm up to give them a go. As it is the flies were tied for Salmon and sea-trout in low-water not really for finnock, but the double thing, for me is to do with the way the fly sits in the water, it also gives it a bit of weight and i'm using the colour of the hooks as the body :z16 I've got some nice single hook sandeels for the river too :wink
Anyway despite the Wind tonight i went for another blast, this time i was trying to catch some finnock, now i know they are there, so i took the 9ft 4wt, with a GT90 and a tapered 4x leader, with some size 14 silver stoats, medicenes and Black grouse.
Damn good fun i had about half a dozen Finnock, several yellow fin and some brownies, nothing of any note but good fun on the 4wt, especially the finnock, biggest was probably pushing the pound mark. Flies didn't seem to matter what the pattern was as long as it had a wee bit of depth the fish would hit it. I missed loads.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_16_04_13_7_55_27.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=581)
Turning out to be a better week than i thought it would be :z3
Sandy
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Great stuff Sandy you're doing well with the current weather wiping everywhere else out.
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Amazing! :z16
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Once the rain Stopped today, i escaped while Tea was being cooked.
A fairly good solid hatch of LDO's coming from From at least 4pm (probably a good bit earlier too :z16) up until 5:45pm.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_17_04_13_5_51_06.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=583)
So fished down the beat with a small alexandria just for a change, had a couple of small yellowfin, but no finnock. Spotted one fish rise a couple of times.
So on the way back up i changed to an olive emerger and had a few chucks here and there to no avail, so i went back to the riser and watched for a while to spot his station, Didn't look too big but it was the first rising trout of the year i've seen on the river.
A couple of casts and he couldn't resist
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_17_04_13_5_54_14.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=584)
No monster, about 9" but the first Dry caught fish from the Ythan for me for the year :z18
The water is a little tinged due to the rain, but still pretty clear and the same level. Might have a go further up tomorrow :z16
Sandy
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Excellanto ! :z16 Any caught fish on the dry is to be celebrated :z14
I have been pondering things trouty on the Ythan given the fluctuating levels on the Don. I bet there are some nice fish in there, I'm going to have to visit Methlick and nudge the "mafia" aside :z4
L
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Good shit Sandy :z16
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Nice looking fish
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You've got a wee gem of a water there Sandy.
Troot on the dry, can't get better than that. :z16
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Once the rain Stopped today, i escaped while Tea was being cooked.
A fairly good solid hatch of LDO's coming from From at least 4pm (probably a good bit earlier too :z16) up until 5:45pm.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_17_04_13_5_51_06.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=583)
So fished down the beat with a small alexandria just for a change, had a couple of small yellowfin, but no finnock. Spotted one fish rise a couple of times.
So on the way back up i changed to an olive emerger and had a few chucks here and there to no avail, so i went back to the riser and watched for a while to spot his station, Didn't look too big but it was the first rising trout of the year i've seen on the river.
A couple of casts and he couldn't resist
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_17_04_13_5_54_14.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=584)
No monster, about 9" but the first Dry caught fish from the Ythan for me for the year :z18
The water is a little tinged due to the rain, but still pretty clear and the same level. Might have a go further up tomorrow :z16
Sandy
Nice rod!
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Some small brownies this afternoon, while messing about with some lines.
Water is Low and very clear, so i went off to explore some other bits :z16
Nothing doing anywhere, but i did get a take and managed to catch possibly the smallest fish i have ever hooked, needless to say it was foul hooked :oops but i just couldn't quite get over the size of it... amazing.... :z14
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_25_04_13_8_04_53.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=628)
Sandy
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Nothing doing anywhere, but i did get a take and managed to catch possibly the smallest fish i have ever hooked, needless to say it was foul hooked :oops but i just couldn't quite get over the size of it... amazing.... :z14
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_25_04_13_8_04_53.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=628)
Cool pic Sandy :cool:
You should tie some of them, I bet you'd take sea trout on them.
Cheers
Ben
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Nice one - little flattie? Flounder??
I occasionally scare one from the sandy shallows surprisingly far from the sea on the Don.
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Nice one - little flattie? Flounder??
I occasionally scare one from the sandy shallows surprisingly far from the sea on the Don.
They have been seen working there way over weirs. Amazing fish really, and highly predatory.
Perhaps we should have a Flattie Fly Fishing event at the mouth of the Don ;)
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I've witnessed a few of the mature version being caught late season by Salmon Anglers in the Ythanbank area and i'm told that they are caught as far up river as Fyvie.
Does anyone know why they would run the river?
Duncan
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LDO hatch started at 1pm today and was a good solid hatch right through till 3 :z16
Lots of fish rising, nothing any size but lots of them, so i had some fun with a good heap of brownies from 6"-9" all on an experimental fly i was playing with.
So it works too.
FYI tying some waterhen bloa's the other night i had a load of hackle stalks left over with some feather fibres on them, wanting to use them i made up some emergers with a Waterhen bloa body, the waterhen feathers as a wee rolled wing and a Spun Blue dun CDC feather for a hackle. So its effectively a CDC Bloa.
The trout liked it :z16
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_26_04_13_4_37_36.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=629)
Once the rising stopped i did a quick change to a size 14 silver stoat and spent 3/4hr swinging it downstream, a couple of finnock and some more brownies :z16
One of the finnock had been through the wars by the look of it, i'm guessing a cormorant or heron (beak type mark just in front of dorsal fin), still he was hungry and sped of fast enough once released :z16
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_26_04_13_4_40_08.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=630)
Might try agin later to see if any of their bigger brothers are in the river yet :z18
Sandy
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Great photos Sandy :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Fished the Braes of Minnonie on Friday, It was bloody Baltic :z6 Did manage one fish on a black snatcher, not a monster but it was good to be out on the river all the same.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12_05_05_13_9_41_14.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=675)
:z18
Jim
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Nice trout Jim :z16
Iain
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Fished the Braes of Minnonie on Friday, It was bloody Baltic :z6 Did manage one fish on a black snatcher, not a monster but it was good to be out on the river all the same.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12_05_05_13_9_41_14.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=675)
:z18
Jim
Hi Jim
You're right it's not a monster. It's a trout! Baa dum tish :z4
:z18
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Spent a pleasant few hours on the river this afternoon, swinging a size 12 black shrimp on the switch rod.
Most enjoyable. Nothing requiring the net but lots of hungry Parr and small trout up to about 9" The water is running at a nice level and is nice and clear with just a touch of colour :z16
Greedy buggers
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_14_05_13_4_44_25.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=732)
About 2.30 a steady hatch started and lasted about an hour and a half. I saw a few LDO's but not many...
However the main hatch was these guys
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_14_05_13_4_45_44.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=733)
At last some Olive Uprights on the water, this is what the Ythan fish were after.
About time i saw some uprights i was starting to wonder if the hatch would happen, so there is still some mileage in afternoons for those who can get out.
if they are hatching on the Ythan then they will be coming off the Don too :z16
Might wander down again later with the switch to see if there are any tourists milling around in the dusk :z18
Sandy
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Great stuff Sandy :z16
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They are a bonny flea
Iain
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Does anyone know why they would run the river?
Food and temperature. They are really a brackish water fish, but they will swap between sea and river quite readily.
Winter time they tend to drop out of the rivers/estuaries and head to sea where they can find constant temperatures to spawn. Come spring time the rivers warm and the flatties start to move into the estuaries to feed up post spawn.
They are highly predatory and will move river to feed on the fry of other fish. If access is realatively easy, they will move many miles upstream although they do get over weirs and the like.
You can pick them up on sandeel and shrimp patterns for a bit of fun. There is a bit of a craze sweeping the sea angling lot called LRF (Light Rock Fishing) where small Blennies, Gobies and the like are caught on 5-7 foot rods and tiny lures. Some of the guys are now using 2 and 3 weight fly rods to present flies to these fish, and are catching flatties by the bucket load.
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Had a few casts this evening.
Lots of Parr and Wee trout playing Lets kill the stoat, again :roll But no sign of anything needing a net.
Water is a touch coloured but clearing slowly, height is nice :z16.
I did see a handful of what looked like Yellow Mays, but couldn't catch one to give a proper ID, still they were very pale, yellowy and about a size 14/16.
First ones i've seen this year if they are May's
Sandy
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Lovely night tonight, river is clearing nicely and a good hatch of what looked like medium sized olives came off between 9 and 1030pm, lots of wee troot feeding.
Size 14 DHE was happily munched by most who saw it :z16
Sandy
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Been a long time coming, but i finally have something else to report for the river, well technically the estuary :roll
Today the tide was a nice time in the morning, so my mate and i headed down to the estuary to try our luck.
It was a lovely day with a bit of a breeze but nice and warm and the water was pretty clear. :z16
Our day began with Finnock and we got quite a few with some pushing the pound mark, most were sealiced with a mixture of long tailed and what i surmise to be standard ones?
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_15_08_13_9_33_29.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1164)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_15_08_13_9_34_13.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1165)
The second fish was taken on the fly as you can see, i had a few on wee baitfish flies and it kinda made my day getting some on the fly rod :z16
I was fishing with my Switch rod and a Barrio 6/7 switch line with a slow sinking polytip. A great combo for the estuary and the prevailing conditions.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_15_08_13_9_36_15.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1166)
I didn't connect with any sea-trout but my mate had 3, all around the 2lb mark. 2 were starting to turn to breeding colours but 1 was a bar of silver and looked really great against the seaweed
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_15_08_13_9_38_36.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1167)
All in all a great day out, between us we had a heap of Finnock plus the sea-trout, lots of fish were showing and splashing around for most of the day.
We fished the ebbing tide right down to its lowest point and the fish only really stopped taking when the tide turned and headed back in.
All good fun.
Sandy
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Awesome, looks like fun and some great photos Sandy! :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Nice photo's & sounds like exciting fishing :z16
Finnock from the brackish...............it seems like a lifetime ago :cry
Nice
Iain
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Fantastic stuff and great fishing Sandy well done :z16
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nice stuff sandy. Love the translucence of the fly
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Major catch from the ythan today
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/24_17_08_13_11_40_03.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1172)
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Nice one Noel :cool:
Cheers
Mike
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Thanks mike I'm very proud of that foul hooked baby :z4
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Hope it didn't leave you feeling flat, good to see you were fly fishing though, it's good for the sole. :X2 :X2Sorry guys, pre Shetland excitement, i'll get my coat. :z4
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Thats another species to add to the list. I have been fishing Garthdee on the Dee a bit and I am amazed to not only see vast shoals of wee 1" trout, but the river bed is coated in tiny flatties of the same size.
I also had an eel of around 3 pounds nosing around feet from me, lifting stones and snaffling anything that was there. I have never seen an eel feeding at such close quarters and it did not have a care in the world. Facinating to watch.
I did contemplate putting a small fly across its nose and then thought better of the ensuing mess that would happen!
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Its been rather busy last couple of weeks, but i have managed to squeeze in a couple of trips down the estuary.
With not much happening on the river it seems the best place to go.
Nice surroundings too.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_13_09_13_12_10_24.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1234)
Had quite a bit of fun with a few very fresh Finnock, very aggresive and covered in aliens.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_13_09_13_12_12_02.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1235)
Horrible little buggers
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_13_09_13_12_14_05.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1236)
A first for me was Catching a Shoe on the fly, it was beautifully encrusted with very pretty mussels.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_13_09_13_12_15_16.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1237)
After quite a struggle i landed it and as i was unhooking it, out jumped a Butterfish :shock Not sure if this counts as a fly caught butterfish, could be a record if it did :z7 Still quite a good laugh was had by all.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_13_09_13_12_17_45.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1238)
At long last i did manage a couple of proper big spotties around the 2 1/2-3lb mark , they were on the turn colour wise despite all the sea lice and the fact they were still in the salty water.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_13_09_13_12_20_31.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1239)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19_13_09_13_12_21_36.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=1240)
Lots of fun and well worth a cast or two. :z16
Sandy
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Excellent stuff Sandy and some cracking photos, I'm not sure if I've seen a Butterfish before :z16
Cheers
Mike
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A couple of bonnie Sea Troot Sandy :z16
:z18
Jim
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congrats on the butterfish !!! :z16 :z4
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Cracking troots Sandy
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Managed to persuade Dan away from the X-box this morning for a couple of hours to catch the falling tide.
We probably got there about an hour late, but he still managed to get his first seatrout amongst a few other things, as usual :z4
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/skuesapprentice/f25837e9-e39f-484f-90ed-0816a9c3d79a.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/skuesapprentice/media/f25837e9-e39f-484f-90ed-0816a9c3d79a.jpg.html)
Only a small sea-trout, but still a sea-trout
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/skuesapprentice/3ceb1f72-cf54-415c-aae3-2a982e42473d.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/skuesapprentice/media/3ceb1f72-cf54-415c-aae3-2a982e42473d.jpg.html)
Between us we had several prawns, a few flatties and a crab
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/skuesapprentice/144dd213-e6ce-425e-a388-c607395f6ee8.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/skuesapprentice/media/144dd213-e6ce-425e-a388-c607395f6ee8.jpg.html)
and 3 sea-trout (no sign of any finnock), 2 bars of silver and one coloured, biggest one was a belter :z3 All went back to go and make a few more
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/skuesapprentice/fe74b18f-829f-4686-9014-23f864f76b59.jpg) (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/skuesapprentice/media/fe74b18f-829f-4686-9014-23f864f76b59.jpg.html)
Great couple of hours with the bairn. :z12
Sandy
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:z16 :z16
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nice - that last trout is a belter. Loving the love affair between crab and rapala too
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Great stuff Sandy :z16
Cheers
Mike
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that last trout is a belter.
It was :wink My best for the season by quite a margin and still looking really bonny :z16
The crab was not best pleased when i coerced him to let go, so you may well be correct :z4 :z4
Sandy
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Que the innuendo........ :z4
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Nice fish Sandy, wish we could get some rain to coax them up the river to my beat.
Dave